Shelter Cove Marina located on Hilton Head Island across from Palmetto Dunes will be offering its annual Harbourfest celebration beginning the first week of June. After a long day at the beach or hitting the sticks on the golf links, guests of the island will be able to relax at the picturesque Shelter Cove Marina.

Guests will be able to enjoy a great meal from the plethora of restaurants available in the marina. On top of the great food, visitors will be able to take pleasure in the delightful sounds of local singing legend Shannon Tanner while watching arguably the best sunset experience on the island.

Boat tours leave from the nearby docks where guests can enjoy the sunset and entertainment from the water. Tickets can be purchased dockside, as there are a wide variety of tours to choose from including dolphin watching, shark fishing, and sunset cruises.

Perhaps the greatest aspect of the Harbourfest experience is the weekly firework show. The firework celebration is offered every Tuesday night. Luckily for visitors if the fireworks are rained out Shelter Cove offers them the following night.

Harbourfest begins at 6 pm and ends at 9:45 pm every Tuesday night. Come experience and enjoy one of Hilton Head’s summertime treasures.

The Spirit of Harbour Town is a luxury, air conditioned and heated passenger yacht that departs from the Harbour Town Marina for sunset dinner cruises. Enjoy the best Hilton Head Island sunsets while feasting on prime rib or a southern summer BBQ. Each party has their own table near one of the panoramic, twenty square foot windows. The yacht departs early enough to catch the sunset and returns after dark to view the harbour lights. The best view in Hilton Head is aboard the Spirit of Harbour Town.

Choose from either the Prime Rib or Southern Summer BBQ buffet. All of the items on the menu are prepared fresh daily and seconds are encouraged. A full service bar is also available with an excellent wine list.

For schedule and reservations visit their website Vagabond Cruise or call (843) 363-9026.

Don’t miss their Sunset & Fireworks Dinner Cruise
every Tuesday starting after Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Every visitor to Hilton Head Island should take time to stop by the Coastal Discovery Museum. I know what you’re thinking…Why would I want to visit a museum when I’m here for the sun, sand and surf?! This is no ordinary museum. With indoor and outdoor exhibits and activity centers, there is truly something to interest every member of your family.

In addition to the exhibits, the museum offers 11 different tours and cruises around the island. This is a fantastic way to become familiar with the island’s unique history and ecology.

The Coastal Discovery Museum is located at 100 William Hilton Parkway.

For more information, call (843) 689-6767 or check it out online at coastaldiscovery.org.

Island Girl

While Hilton Head Island is most often associated with golf, tennis and beach activities, many visitors have discovered a unique way to enjoy the natural beauty of the Lowcountry: horseback riding! I’m not a big horse person, but I have had several guests over the years who wanted to ride horses during their vacation here.

For the faint of heart (like me), Lawton Stables in Sea Pines is the perfect solution. You won’t have to do a thing but keep yourself in the saddle and hold on to the reins. These gentle, hospitable horses will take you on a leisurely tour along nature trails within the scenic Sea Pines Forest Preserve—perfect for a family outing or a romantic adventure.

In addition to the guided tours, Lawton Stables offers riding lessons and one hour rides for ages eight and up and pony rides for seven and under. Lawton Stables is located on Greenwood Drive at Sea Pines. (843) 671-2586. Advance reservations are required.

More serious equestrians might want to check out off-island amenities: Moss Creek Equestrian Center, 1523 Fording Island Rd., (843) 837-6117, Star Ridge Stables in Hardeeville, (843) 784.7845, Sea Horse Farms, 34 Mitchelville Rd, Hilton Head, (843) 681-7746; and the Rose Dhu Creek Equestrian Center in Bluffton, (843) 815-7878, and the Daufuskie Island Equestrian Center on Daufuskie Island, SC. In addition to leisure rides, these facilities offer boarding, training, horse shows, clinics, kids camps and more.
Island Girl

Can too many cooks spoil the broth? Apparently not when it comes to stirring up a major culinary event. The 2007 Friends of Literacy annual fundraiser will take on a different flavor this year as the organization presents Cooks and Books, a combination of food for the body and food for the mind. Vital ingredients include chefs, authors, sponsors, volunteers and you! With over a dozen restaurants and as many authors participating, the event, to be held April 29, from noon-5 p.m., at the Mall at Shelter Cove, promises to be a smorgasbord of fun for the whole family.

If you are visiting Hilton Head Island be sure to stop by and enjoy one of the island’s most unique events. Not only will you enjoy tastings from some of the best restaurants in town, but you’ll get to meet some popular local authors who will be on hand to autograph their books.

The highlight will be a cooking competition to rival the popular TV series, Iron Chefs. The proceeds go to a worthy cause—helping people learn to read and write and function more effectively in our society. This is a wonderful opportunity for the whole family to have some fun while making a valuable contribution to the community and to the world.

Admission is free. Food tickets will be sold for $2 each the day of the event, with tastings ranging from $2-$6. All proceeds benefit the Literacy programs.

For more information, call 843-686-6655.
Island Girl

Seems like there’s always something good happening at Shelter Cove Community Park. If you haven’t been to the park, you owe it to yourself to check it out. Overlooking Broad Creek, the setting alone is breathtaking—a great place to go for a picnic or just to relax and enjoy the outdoors.

If you’re visiting Hilton Head Island on Saturday, April 28, stop by the park between 1 and 5 p.m. for the David Carmines Festival, and enjoy a day of fun with your family. Best of all, this annual event, held in memory of David Carmines, a beloved local boy who died of cancer, benefits the American Cancer Society and the Island Recreation Center scholarship fund. What can be better than that? You get to have a good time while doing something good for someone else.

Activities for all ages include crab races, a silent auction, kids zone, live music and plenty of delicious food, of course! For more information, call the Island Recreation Center at 843-681-7273.

Island Girl

The 2007 Verizon Heritage takes place April 9th through the 15th at Harbour Town Golf Links at Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island. Sponsorship packages have sold out, however, there is a limited number of clubhouse badges, grounds badges, and Heritage Daily Ticket packages still available. Individual badges are quickly selling out. Anyone interested in attending the tournament should purchase tickets as soon as possible. Don’t miss one of Hilton Head Island’s best experiences. If you tire of watching golf there are plenty of other activities to keep you interested such as shopping, people watching and enjoying the spectacular scenery.

You may purchase badges online at Verizon Heritage Online Ordering or at the Tournament Office in the parking lot of the Harbour Town Golf Links. The Hilton Head / Bluffton Chamber of Commerce is also selling badges at their three locations or call (800) 234-1107 for more information.

Check out our Spring Lodging Specials

Check out more golf photos on our flickr.com account

Hilton Head Island has a great skateboard park for the kids. Located in the Sea Pines Plantation it is very safe with lots of fun ramps. Drop them off while you hit the links or spend the afternoon shopping.

Here is a video I took during my trip in November 2006.